The toxic smoke emitted due to the burning of the cars forced authorities to shut down the southbound lanes.

The fire was reported at 5:35 p.m. Saturday on the southbound Golden State Freeway just north of Balboa Boulevard, ABC7 reported, quoting the California Highway Patrol.

The transport with its burning load of lithium ion battery-equipped cars was off to the side of the truck lane, but the toxic smoke from the fire made it necessary to shut down all of the southbound lanes, including the truck lane, according to the CHP.

Authorities rerouted the traffic to the northbound Antelope Valley (14) Freeway.

Traffic on the transition from the southbound Antelope Valley Freeway was diverted to the northbound Golden State Freeway, according to the CHP.

Several videos of the incident, showing the cars burning, have now gone viral.

No casualty was reported in the incident.